Chapter Text
~September 12th, 2028~
“So, you already said that you like dogs better than cats, but what about ducks and chickens?” Eli asked as he and Alice sat on the rocks, next to the lake, while Shiloh played fetch with a stick. Both of them were in their swimsuits, despite the weather slowly cooling down the lake.
“What kind of question is that?” Alice asked. “Chickens over ducks, mostly because their eggs are better, and ducks bite.”
Eli laughed, nodding.
Alice laughed also, cupping her mouth with her hand.
“That’s fair, I totally get it.” Eli said, and Alice nodded, running a hand through her slightly damp hair, almost dry from swimming earlier.
“Anyway, are you going to the football game next week?” Alice asked and Eli shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head, playing around with the hem of his shorts, as Shiloh ran over, handing him her stick, which he took, and threw far.
“I’m not the best person for a football game. They’re just so loud.”
Alice hummed, nodding. “That’s fair, I get it. I just haven’t gotten to go to any of them yet, mostly because my mom is worried about me getting hurt.”
“That sucks.” Eli said, and Alice nodded.
He smiled at her, noticing how close they were to each other, and after a couple seconds, Alice noticed that they were close too. Alice smiled, leaning in close to him, as Eli’s eyes flicked up and down her face, to her bright red swimsuit, and up.
Alice smiled. “I know you’re looking, and I don’t mind.”
Next to her, Eli frowned. “You don’t?”
“No, in fact, I like it.” she said, and Eli looked away, running his hand over his face, as he laid back down on the rock.
“Is it bad that I feel like this is going too fast? I mean, we’ve only known each other for just under three months.” he asked.
“Well, you know about my narcolepsy, and not many people do. You help me with my schoolwork, and we both talk shit about the teachers. You’ve let me into your house, and I’ve met your dad, and your dog likes me.” Alice said, placing a hand on Eli’s shoulder, drawing his attention to her, as she shifted her body, looking down on him, shading him from the sun.
He sighed, putting his hand on her knee. “Let’s just go slow, yeah?”
Alice nodded. “Yeah.”
She leaned down, and kissed his cheek, not his lips…at least, not yet. Just his cheeks, before Shiloh jumped onto their rock, and began to shake violently, getting lake water all over Alice and Eli, who sat up and covered Alice’s body from Shiloh.
Alice laughed. “That was naughty Shiloh!”
Eli placed his hand on Alice’s shoulder, and she looked at him. “She’s just telling you how much she loves you.”
“Oh is she?” Alice asked, and got up, walking down to the shore, where she walked in, wading into the water as it splashed at her legs.
“Wait!” Eli said.
He didn’t want to leave her alone in the water, especially in case she fell asleep, and even though he was sure that she wouldn’t, since it was cold water, he just wanted her to be safe.
But of course, he didn’t say that out loud.
~October 23rd, 2028~
By the time Alice made it to Eli’s Samurai, after he got done with soccer practice, she was exhausted, and leaned over to him, grabbing his hand, kissing his knuckles. “I’m gonna pass out.”
Eli nodded. “Do what you need to. I’m going to the store real quick, and then I’ll take you to my house, ok?” he asked and Alice nodded.
“Good.” she said, drifting off as he pulled out of the school parking lot.
It was kind of nice, to have someone in the car, but also not, because Alice slept most of the time that they were in the car anyway. Eli’s Samurai seats were unbelievably comfy for her, it seemed, so she could fall asleep in them all the time, and, most of the time, that was what ended up happening to her, after school, before school, or any time she and Eli went anywhere.
He thought to himself that maybe he should get less comfortable seats, but then again, he didn’t want his girlfriend falling asleep on him all the time when they were hanging out with one another. He wanted to spend time with her.
They got to the Hale House, and Eli realized that Rowan was gone…probably at work, since he’d started working at the casino a couple weeks ago. Eli turned off the Samurai, and tapped Alice on the shoulder, waking her up.
“Did I sleep?” she asked and Eli nodded.
“Come on, let’s make something to eat, and then watch a movie.” he said, and Alice nodded, following him into the house.
She sat and watched him cook, sitting on one of the bar chairs, smiling as Eli stirred the pot on the stove, chatting about his day. When he asked her how hers went, Alice sighed. “My mom is being a bitch again, as usual, just shooting herself up with meth and then coming home, expecting help.”
Eli frowned, handing her a glass of water. “I didn’t know about that.”
“That’s because I’ve never told you, smart guy.” Alice chuckled, as Eli went back around the counter, back to his task.
“Was she always like that?” he asked.
“No, it didn’t start until I was about twelve, and it wasn’t meth either, it was just weed, then it was coke, then pills, and then meth. Then it just cycled, especially if you add the alcohol into it too.” Alice said, and Eli shot her a sympathetic look.
They moved to the couch after their food was done, and ate their tacos, chips and guac, as they watched a Marvel movie, curled up together, with blankets on their feet. About halfway through Infinity War, Eli turned to Alice, who was sleeping, and smiled, kissing her forehead, before getting up, doing the dishes after turning the volume down.
He eventually came back to the couch, and found Shiloh in his spot, and Alice curled up against his dog, who looked very pleased with herself. Eli kneeled in front of Shiloh, as she gave him a kiss. “You stole my spot, and my girlfriend.”
Shiloh didn’t look guilty in the slightest, but moved so her person could take his spot, and then, she sat at his feet. Eli settled in for the rest of the movie, and by the time it was over, he was on his phone, scrolling as Alice slept.
He was happy, content. He had a girlfriend, his best friend was safe, and he had his dog. His parents were home full-time now, so he knew that Shiloh wouldn’t be alone while he was gone, and Rowan wasn’t often alone either.
Things were good, and he hoped that they weren’t ruined.
~January 16th, 2029~
Sweat dripped down Eli Hale’s back, or more accurately, his entire body, as he, along with two of his teammates, dribbled the ball across the field, passing it to one another, until Eli whistled to his right wing, who passed it fiercely to him, and he caught it with his heel, turning away from the opposite team, before eyeing his opponent’s goalie, and taking the shot.
The ball glided past the goalie’s outstretched fingers, and slammed into the net. This was met with a roaring applause from his teammates, who grabbed his shoulders, and the audience in the stands of the soccer field.
Eli could hear Alice cheering from her folding chair, wearing army makeup in the Beacon Hills colors on her bright red cheeks, cold from the wind and the air around them. There had been a thick layer of frost on the field when Eli had first arrived, and it was only starting to disappear.
He grinned, when his coach ushered the team off the field, and into the line, where they shook hands with the other team, at the end of the game…which Eli had won for their team. They were undefeated the whole season, and he was determined to keep it that way.
“You did amazing!” Alice declared, cheeks flushed and nose pink as Eli came off the field, and hugged her, kissing her on the lips.
“Thanks baby, I like the face paint.” he said and Alice grinned.
“I thought it was a nice touch.”
Eli nodded, kissing her forehead. “I have to go wash up, but I’ll be quick, so just wait for me in the car, ok?”
Alice nodded, and turned to go.
As Eli walked to the locker room, where he would shower and put on clothes that didn’t smell like excessive werewolf sweat, he thought about himself and his relationship with Alice. It was damn near perfect, aside from the fact that the only sex they had were Alice’s handjobs, and Eli going down, which barely happened.
It was almost like they didn’t need to. Alice hadn’t told him if she wanted to go all the way, and Eli had told her that she just had to tell him what she wanted, and they would figure it out. That was four months ago, and there hadn’t been anything Alice wanted to do, except to get the edge off, and not the penetration kind. She’d come to him about it, and he’d help, and after, they’d make some food, and watch a movie, cuddling on the couch.
He washed his body, his hair, and his face, before going out and getting dressed, heading to Alice in the car, where she was listening to music, while reading something on her phone. “Ready to go?” he asked and she nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
~
They arrived at home, where Nixie and Naeomi were hanging out, and went up to Eli’s room, waving at the two witches, who looked tired.
“What’s up with them?” Alice asked and Eli shrugged.
“Probably just had a bad flight, or there’s another family squabble…I honestly have no idea.” he said and Alice laughed.
“That’s good, I’ll give you that.”
~April 4th, 2029~
By the time spring came around, Eli was tired. His senior year had flown by so fast, that he hardly got a chance to enjoy it.
He’d worked in his Auto Mechanics class extremely hard, worked his job hard, and won the soccer title at States with his team, but now that it was April, he felt like he hadn’t gotten anything done, and that he had missed so many opportunities to do something that he enjoyed for a change.
Alice was still his girlfriend, but she’d gone on an exchange program, and was currently studying at a high school in Italy, while Eli was finishing his senior year in Beacon Hills.
They were good, talked almost every day, about what they’d been doing, and Eli felt like it would all be ok after Alice got back, since they could go on a road trip down the coast.
He knew that it was cliché, but it almost didn’t matter, since it sounded like so much fun. Rowan was still living with him, and it looked like that wouldn’t be changing anytime soon, so he made sure to always have Rowan’s favorite things stocked in the fridge.
It was the time of year to start thinking about the future, and about college, but Eli had a different plan in mind, to find out what he wanted to do on his summer road trip, since he didn’t want to go to a big university.
There was a lot to think about, so he knew that he couldn’t rush anything.
~April 29th, 2029~
Eli was in line for prom pickup tickets, when he ran into Jack Moore, who he hadn’t seen since the final game of the soccer season, standing there with his girlfriend on his arm. “Are you going to prom?” Jack asked and Eli nodded.
“With who?” Jack asked.
“Alice, she’s coming back at the end of next month, and prom is right after she gets back, like two days before graduation.” Eli explained, and Jack frowned.
“Wait, she’s your girlfriend?” he asked as his girlfriend apparently spotted her friends and ran off, leaving Eli and Jack alone.
“Why do you ask? We’ve been together for all of the school year” Eli asked.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “I just never guessed that you two would be together. I mean, have you even had sex yet?”
The brunette shook his head. “Not penetrative.”
“Do you want to?”
“I want her to tell me when she’s ready.” Eli said.
Jack’s eyes widened. “That means that you don’t want to have sex with her. Are you gay or something? Please tell me you’re not leading her on.”
Looking down at himself, Eli shrugged. “I don’t think I am.”
“Well figure it out.”
Eli looked up at the sky as Jack walked into the other line, which was filed about twenty feet from the classroom, doing the ticket pickups. “I think I will.”
~June 2nd, 2029~
As Eli and Alice sat in the back of the Samurai, parked on the mountain, overlooking the horizon, as the sun set, Eli turned to his girlfriend. “Do you want to go all the way?”
Alice turned to him, confused. “What?”
“Like, sex?” Eli asked and Alice shrugged her shoulders, shifting so that she was facing him, her brown eyes alight with something concerning.
“If you want to, I wouldn’t say no. Do you have condoms?” she asked and Eli nodded, shifting on their makeshift bed, to reach for the glovebox. He pulled out a roll, and placed it on his leg, looking at Alice gently.
“Do you really want to?” he asked.
Alice nodded, leaning in, to kiss him.
It moved smoothly, gently, and soft, as Eli carefully undressed Alice, making sure to keep her under the covers, due to the mosquitoes loving to eat her fair skin. She laid against the pillows, propped up against the seats, as Eli managed to get hard, though it was harder to get excited than he was expecting, as he tried to think about his favorite part of a person…their ass.
Alice’s was perky and soft, so he focused on that, and managed a decent thickness, before rolling on the condom. Alice kissed him through it as he pushed in, and then began to thrust as soon as she told him that it wasn’t hurting anymore.
Somehow, it was extremely easy to satisfy Alice, as she was a sensitive person, in personality, and apparently in body also, as she finished before him, clenching as she did so, and Eli grunted, hiding his face in her neck. He pulled out, and hid the condom in the trash can he kept in the Samurai.
“Was that your first time?” Alice asked and Eli nodded, sitting back into their little bed, as she leaned against him.
“I hope we can do that again.” she said, but sounded hesitant.
“Yeah.” Eli said, looking down at his now covered crotch.
He was soft again, and hadn’t even finished.
What was happening to him?
Was he losing interest in his girlfriend?
~June 6th, 2029~
On the day of Eli’s high school graduation, his parents were fussing about him, Conri playing with his hair, while Derek made sure that all of his clothes were pressed, and smelling amazing before he put them on, to go to the school.
The werewolf sat in the middle of his parent’s bedroom, as Conri played with his hair, making it fluffier than usual. “Pappa, are you sure that I have to look like this?”
“Of course sweetheart, you’re going to be the hottest one at this graduation ceremony.” Conri said, and Eli rolled his eyes as Derek brought in his gown, and his suit.
“I can’t believe that you’re graduating today!” he said, hugging Eli from behind.
“Watch the hair!” Conri chastised his husband, as Eli took off his tank top, and began to button up his white suit shirt, and jumped into his slacks. When he sat back down, Conri went back to work, and Eli was stuck there for another twenty minutes.
When he was finally free to go, Eli ran into his room, where his graduation gown was hanging on his door, on a hanger. He grabbed the gown, and his cap, from his bed, before leaving his room, to find Shiloh sitting on his dress shoes, which he had just recently polished. “Shiloh, get out of there.”
The Heeler whined, jumping off as Eli grabbed his shoes, and went to sit on the bench next to the front door, putting on his shoes. When he was done, he called his parents, who were still upstairs. “If you don’t come down, I’m leaving without you.”
“Don’t say that! We’re coming!” Conri called.
“People.” Eli said, kissing Shiloh’s head, as Derek and Conri came down the stairs, hand in hand, as they grabbed Eli in big hugs.
“I’m so proud of you sweetheart.” Conri kissed his head, wrapping an arm around him, as he and Derek walked with him out of the front door.
They made their way to the school, which was packed with cars, full of graduates, eager to get into the gym, where they were meeting, before walking onto the field, for the ceremony. Eli sat in the backseat with Shiloh, who, due to her training, was allowed to be on leash, with Conri and Derek for the ceremony, but they were still stuck in the traffic leading to the campus.
After ten minutes of waiting, and only getting by four more cars, Eli spoke up. “Can I just get out and walk to the gym?” he asked.
Conri looked at Derek in the driver’s seat, and the alpha turned to his husband, an eyebrow raised, as Conri jutted his head to the side. “Sure kiddo.”
Derek pushed the button to unlock the backseat door, and Eli grinned, leaning forward, to kiss his parents on their cheeks, before grabbing his cap and gown, jumping out of the car, and running up to the gym, where he was stopped by admin, who cleared his dress code, and sent him to the bathrooms, where everyone was getting their caps and gowns on right.
He pinned his cap to his head, making sure that his hair didn’t get affected, before putting on his gown, but not zipping it up to the top. Then, he made his way to the table, where staff members were handing out stoles, medals, and cords to graduates to wear during the ceremony.
“Name?” his Latin teacher asked, even though she knew who he was.
“Eli Hale.”
He watched as she rifled through the small bags with all of the cords, stoles, and medals, before pulling his out, and handing it to him. “Good job kid.”
Eli smiled, taking the bag, and pulling it open. “Thanks.”
He walked off, pulling out what was in his bag, as he made his way to the bleachers in the gym, where everyone else was gathering. The first thing to come out of his bag was his gold Magna Cum Laude stole, followed by his Seal of Biliteracy medal on a navy blue ribbon. Despite being bilingual since childhood, Eli was able to test extremely high on the district approved assessment for French, and passed his AP Latin class with a four and his AP French class with a five.
He wasn’t the valedictorian or anything like that, having been beaten out for both valedictorian and salutatorian, but it didn’t matter, since his bilingualism was being honored. There wasn’t an award for being Multilingual, but it almost didn’t matter.
“Hey Hale, you’re looking good in that gold stole.” Eli turned to Jack Moore, who wore the standard cords around his neck, touching his maroon gown.
“Thanks, but I couldn’t have done it if I had kept playing lacrosse.” he smiled, and Jack snorted.
“Don’t let Coach hear that.” he said.
Eli chuckled. “Fair.”
He and Jack made their way to the bleachers, sitting together, since the graduates weren’t going to be put into their line order until they left the gym, going single file. “So, where’s your girlfriend?” Jack asked and Eli shrugged.
“Alice is here somewhere, she texted me when I got here, that she was in the bathroom, helping other girls get their caps on right.” he said and Jack hummed, nodding and turning away.
~
After finally finding a parking spot in the labyrinth of cars and people at the campus, Conri and Derek finally got out of their car, and made their way to the football field, where the graduation ceremony was being held, hand in hand, and smiles on their faces. Conri curled his arm around Derek’s as they walked, and laid his head on his alpha’s shoulder. “What?”
“Can you believe that our baby is graduating high school?” Conri looked up at his husband, and Derek smiled.
“I can’t believe that I’m married and have a kid sometimes. This is still hard for me to wrap my brain around, since sometimes, I think I’m going to wake up, and it will all be a dream.” Derek said, looking down at his and Conri’s joined hands, their wedding rings touching.
“Don’t say that. Besides, this would be the best dream that I would never want you to wake up from. I’d keep you in the Matrix forever.” Conri said.
Derek laughed. “Come here.”
With his thumb guiding Conri’s chin, Derek pulled his husband into a kiss, leaning to the side, so that Conri could go the opposite way, tongues together, as Conri let out a purr, plastering his body to Derek’s, the alpha wrapping his arms around Conri, pulling him to his chest.
“I love you.” Derek pulled away, and Conri grinned, giddy and happy.
“I love you too.” he agreed.
They found seats on the left side of the stadium, and sat down, Conri putting down blankets, since he wanted to be comfortable when sitting on the bleachers. Eventually, Derek and Conri were joined by the twins, Ash, and Gianna.
“Where are Mom and Diana?” Conri asked, and Gianna pulled out her phone, checking it with a frown on her face.
“Danae texted me that she should be on her way in about fifteen minutes, and Diana just got Dean to put on his shoes.” she said.
Conri rolled his eyes. “So twenty minutes for all of them?”
Nixie laughed, covering her mouth to try and keep her laughter to herself, and not alarm the other humans that were there. “You’re hilarious.”
~
“Slow down, don’t push the people!” Emma rolled her eyes as she shoved through the horde of people in her way, to get to the stadium.
“You act like I’m a functioning member of society Dad! I’m not!” she shouted back at Dean, before spotting Eli’s parents, aunts, and uncle in the bleachers.
Rushing down, she was greeted by Diana, appearing out of thin air as a woman walked past Emma’s face. The hunter looked annoyed, with her arms over her chest, and Danae behind her, as Dean and Sam caught up to Emma. “Dammit.”
Diana pointed to the bleachers, and Emma sunk down next to Jen, who was wearing a maroon sweater to be in the school spirit, her blue hair over her shoulder. “How does it feel to be in the doghouse?” she asked and Emma sighed.
“Great.” she said as the band began to play, and the graduates walked out onto the field, and the cheers began.
Emma focused on the line of gowned people, who were filing into the numerous seats that were scattered across the field, behind a stage, and a podium. She was looking for her best friend, who she was sure that she could spot in an instant, but wanted to challenge herself, and not use her phone to zoom in on each individual person as they walked out. She waited for them all to sit down, before scanning their heads, not paying even a little bit of attention to anyone else, even as the valedictorian made a speech, as did the salutatorian, and the principal.
Then, her efforts were thwarted, when Eli stood up, wearing a golden stole, and a medal around his neck, and everyone around her stood up and cheered, screaming their applause.
“Why is he standing up?” she asked Diana.
“He’s getting recognized for Magna Cum Laude, and Biliteracy.” Diana said.
“But he’s multilingual.” Emma reminded her.
“Yeah, but the school doesn’t care about that.” she said, and Emma shrugged her shoulders as the rest of the graduates were honored, like Eli, and told to stand.
Eventually this ordeal was done, and the graduates sat down again. Now began the excruciating process of waiting for every single student to be called up to receive their diploma, which made Emma so happy that she graduated online, and didn’t have to go to a graduation, but this was worth it for her best friend, as she saw him stand up, and follow a line to the stage, where he walked up the steps, and shook hands with the principal, who handed him his diploma case.
Emma could see the shine in his eyes, as he grinned, walking off the stage, and back to his seat. She got to her feet, and waved at him, his eyes glinting as he noticed her and smiled, waving as he sat back down, and watched the rest of his class walk.
~
The tassel turned over to the other side, as the stadium erupted in applause, cheers, and sound horns, as Eli and his entire class stood, and threw their caps into the air.
What followed was basically chaos, as Eli wound through the crowds, to get to his family, who met him on the grass. He hugged all of them, spending a little extra time with his pappa, until Emma grabbed him, practically tackling him onto the ground, as Dean pulled out a camera.
The two teenagers laughed loudly, before Jen pulled them both to their feet, and Eli felt a hand on his shoulder, turning to see Alice. He grinned, and hugged her too.
“Let’s go son, we have places to be.” Dad said a couple minutes after taking all the pictures, and Eli nodded, hugging his Dad, who he walked with, back to the car.
Emma nudged him on the car ride home. “It’s empty, you know that, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s stupid.”
“I know.”